We joined the 'Vereniging Klassiek Scherpe Jachten (VKSJ)', the Dutch Classic Yacht association. (http://www.vksj.nl). The Admission Committee published a nice report about OHO in 2009.

Translation of the Dutch VKSJ admission Report of OHO:

“In the set of documentation you can read that this boat has everything you might expect from a classic yacht. Why, you might ask. First of all, the designers are well known for more than 80 years. Starting with the desing of Dorade, the first really famous creation of Olin Stephens (who died last year at the age of 100). Since then they proved to be able to design yachts for many different purposes. For America's Cup, RORC yachts, CCA, you name it, they all succeeded! For this reason S&S yachts are by definition remarkable. Especially when it is a One Off design, like the OHO. Many designs of Sparkman & Stephens were mentioned and analysed in international magazines and well known books about yacht designs.

Some of us recognize an S&S yacht only by looking at her nice back. It is also possible that it's quite often difficult to have a look at the bow (unless an S&S yacht is catching up on you).

About the OHO:

The assignment for Sparkman & Stephens did not have many requirements: design a yacht that is well able to sail in the area of Vancouver in usually light weather conditions. No need to take into account all kinds of class restrictions, rulings or measurements.

The result is not an interpretation of restrictive set of ratio's, rules and requirements, but a vision of a first class designer on a light displacement racer/cruiser for this purpose.

For this reason, it's not a surprise that the yacht shows similar lines like the German Seefahrtskreuzers designed by Rasmussen, Tiller, Verten, etc., and the Swedish Havkryssares, as designed by Tore Holm, Knud Reimers, Tore Herling and Olle Enderlin. All of them with pretty long and slim hulls where Form follows Function does not have anything to do with the body lenght of the crew or the dilemma to create one or more bath rooms. And there was no reason to make adjustments in order to achieve bonusses or avoid penalties due to class rules or restrictions. Top priority was sailing performance, comfort came second.

OHO is a representative of a period where fluent lines in shapes and waterlines, combined with stretched overhangs, long keelprofiles and ruther positioned close to the keel, deep under the hull. These yachts had to be well balanced in shape, with a proper balance in sail and lateral points in the longitude in order to leave a little weather helm while sailing upwind.

The OHO will not only perfom well in light weather but will also make impression in more windy conditions.

The photographs and blueprints of OHO show clearly that the considerations above created the basis of the design philosophy. Olin Stephens was given the opportunity to create an appearance.

And OHO still is an appearance. Equiped with wooden mast and boom, bronze gear and nice 7/8 rigging, OHO shows off all of her grace to those who pay some attention for a while.

The VKSJ is pleased with that! The OHO is a yacht that fits right in the middle of the target we are aiming for.

In modern times such designs (with smaller keels, modern rudders and wood core techniques) are making a come back (named Spirit of Tradition or thinks like that). In a time where the real racers like Volvo 60 seem to appear from a different planet and Dehler, Bavaria and Hanse own the fleet of cruisers and real classics like the OHO are becoming more and more exceptional.”

We thank the VKSJ for this complimentary report.